November 15th Sacrament Meeting Cancellation and Update

Good Morning my friends!  A quick update and apology for not sending this earlier in the week, but we had to work out some details and await some information from our church leaders regarding the new State Mandate and how it affects our Sacrament meeting options. First I want to assure you that we are doing all we can as a Bishopric and Ward Council and as your friends and neighbors to keep each other as safe and protected as we can, yet still allow us to be together in a supportive and uplifting way. Please know that any decision we make to limit any activity or event or to proceed with one is always done after much prayer,thought and consideration.   With that in mind I have felt it proper to support the intent and spirit of the new Statewide mandate issued this week to not hold an in person Sacrament meeting. I want to point out that religious gatherings are still allowed, but I personally feel it's important to not ask for exemptions in maintaining consistent safe behavior. I don't feel it right to ask us to abide by one set of actions during the week yet not on Sunday. Other Wards in the Stake however will still meet and if you like you can view their streams via the westlandstake.org website at 9am,12 noon and 1pm. We will revisit the decision for next weeks Sacrament meeting tomorrow and I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas about it. We will still be holding our Sunday School class at 2:30pm tomorrow here is the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86914309216...Meeting ID: 869 1430 9216Passcode: 313730 Please note that this is the same link as last weeks meetings. Our youth Sunday School class for all 11-18 yr olds will follow immediately afterwards on the same meeting. I highly encourage us all to attend this meeting to see and hear from each other and our wonderful teachers who have prepared all week for our discussion. Please take the time we would have had for our Sacrament meeting to study the lesson or to watch a few conference talks to be ready to participate at 2:30. Please remember that you do not have to be on camera to attend, I know many of you are camera shy (Although you're all gorgeous and we miss seeing you!) you can attend and simply keep the video off and join by audio only if that's more comfortable to you. Please join us! Also the Stake will be broadcasting a Stake Presidency Devotional on Sunday November 22nd at 6pm-7pm Each member of our Stake Presidency will speak and this will be in place of our Stake Conference. Also Pres. Nelson has announced that he will be giving a short video message of "Hope and Healing" this week on Friday Nov 20th at 11am https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/message-coming-nov-20-hope-healing-president-nelson That video will be made available for viewing on the church's website if you miss it Friday. We will also be watching and discussing this video as part of our 5th Sunday lesson at 2:30pm on Sunday the 29th. Thank you my friends for your patience and understanding through all of these challenges and changes, realize it's temporary, we've had great news on future vaccines and treatments and thank all of you for your prayers and fasting for those results it is truly miraculous how fast they've been developed and we thank our loving Heavenly Father for that blessing. Please stay safe, make wise choices and be a good example to your families and friends and know that a little sacrifice now will be worth a better tomorrow. As always if you have questions or concerns about anything please do not hesitate to call, email or text me.